Music stencil

ABSTRACT

A sheet of clear plastic punched or molded with stencil-type openings having the configuration of music markings provides a ready, accurate, self-guiding and good appearing means for writing music legibly and uniformly.

United States Patent 1191 Walton Sept. 16, 1975 [5 MUSIC STENCIL 2,379,791 7/1945 Dolgorukov 33/174 B 2 4 4 1 [76] Inventor: Barbara Simon Walton, 3011 533 $32,2 3

Minerva Lake Rd., Columbus, Ohio 43229 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 607,418 8/1948 United Kingdom 33/41 R 2 [22] Flled Nov 1973 1,090,653 10 1954 France 33/41 B [21] Appl. No.: 418,410

7 Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter 52 11.5. c1 33/1'74 B; 33/41 B AS81314"! Examin'erRichard Stems [51] Int. Cl B4ln 1/24 [58] Field of Search 33/174 B, 41 R, 41 B; 57 ABSTRACT A sheet of clear plastic punched or molded with sten- [56] References Cited cil-type openings having the configuration of music markings provides a ready, accurate, self-guiding and UNITED STATES PATENTS good appearing means for writing music legibly and 802,975 10/1905 Cremers 33 174 B if l 1,863,091 6/1932 Allred 33/174 B 2,152,904 4/1939 McNeil 33/174 B 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures MUSIC STENCIL This invention relates to materials and aids used in writing music, more particularly to devices that mechanically produce uniform music markings.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a stencil or template that has a variety of cutouts of symbols and signs used in music scoring. The cut-outs are shaped to receive the point of a pencil, a ball-pen or the like in a manner that permits tracing of each pattern. Symbols are lined up with each other and all symbols are disposed for registry by being parallel to the lower edge of the stencil. In this manner sliding the stencil along a straight edge, markings are kept in line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stencil of the type described that is easy to use, lends itself to rapid use with practice, and can be manufactured for long, dependable use at a low cost.

Still another object is to provide a device that is applicable on a larger scale for the neat presentation of symbols, phrases and the like for use by teachers, lecturers and other group demonstration applications.

These and other objects will become evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of a stencil, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a spacing means for accurately superimposing two stencil parts for a symbol that does not lend itself to one cut-out;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the use of the stencil for drawing music staffs.

Referring to the figures, the stencil shows a sheet of clear plastic 1 l in which a multiplicity of music symbols or signs are molded, stamped or cut-out to provide openings that will serve as a guide for a pencil, a ballpen or other marking or writing implements. The symbols shown in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 appear as an example only and do not intend to limit the scope of the invention. In the illustration there is shown staff lines openings 12, staff bars 13, a treble clef 14, a natural 15, a four-count note 16, a symbol l7 serving both as a two-count note and a three-count note, a group 18 comprising an eighth note, a sixteenth note and a 32nd note, a sharp symbol 19, a flat symbol a rest symbol 21, a quarter rest symbol 22, a Fermata symbol 23, a base clef symbol 24, a group of time signatures and a brace symbol 26.

Where practical and still giving good appearing results, symbols are made discontinuous in a manner similar to commercial stencils. This will be observed in treble clef l4 and in time signature numerals 4, 6, 8 and 9. Other symbols such as the natural Sign 15 and the sharp sign l9 require a two-step procedure. Referring in particular to sharp 19, FIG. 2 illustrates the procedure for quickly and accurately producing the complete symbol. The vertical lines 19a are traced. The point of the writing implement is then placed at the leftend of slot 19b and held there against the paper while the stencil is slid to the left until stopped by the right end of slot 19b. Openings 19c are automatically placed in registry with the markings made through openings 19a. The writing implement is then used to produce the finished sharp symbol 19d.

Referring in particular to staff markings l2 and bar markings l3 and to FIG. 3, stencil 10 is held so that its lower edge 10a can slide along a fixed member 27. Such member may be a plastic or the like strip held in place by the fingers or it may be a straight edge on a drawing board or the like. The writing implement is then used to produce bars 13a and staff lines 12a are produced by sliding the stencil along edge 27.

Depending upon the appearance desired and the finished music score, refinements may be added. For example, the full four-count rest 16 may be dressed up slightly by employing a slide guide 16a in order to fill out the symbol.

It should be noted that staff markings 12 and 13, treble and bass cleffs l4 and 24, time signatures 25 and brace 26 are disposed for registry in order to make the alignment of symbols quickly and accurately.

What I now claim is: i

l. A drawing instrument comprising a stencil having a straight edge on the perimeter thereof formed with plural openings depicting a symbol used in music scoring wherein said openings comprise a first set of at least one opening representing a first portion of said symbol, and a second set of at least one opening representing the remaining portion of said symbol, said first and second sets of openings being separated from the position in which they would overlap and form the complete symbol by a predetermined distance along a line parallel to said straight edge, and a slot parallel to said straight edge formed on said stencil, the length of said slot being equal to said predetermined length, whereby said slot is used in cooperation with a drawing implement to properly position said second set of openings with respect to the lines using said first set of openings. =l 

1. A drawing instrument comprising a stencil having a straight edge on the perimeter thereof formed with plural openings depicting a symbol used in music scoring wherein said openings comprise a first set of at least one opening representing a first portion of said symbol, and a second set of at least one opening representing the remaining portion of said symbol, said first and second sets of openings being separated from the position in which they would overlap and form the complete symbol by a predetermined distance along a line parallel to said straight edge, and a slot parallel to said straight edge formed on said stencil, the length of said slot being equal to said predetermined length, whereby said slot is used in cooperation with a drawing implement to properly position said second set of openings with respect to the lines using said first set of openings. 